A NINTH straight league victory for St Gluvias on Saturday maintained their position at the top of Division Two West in the Cornwall Cricket League.

The Kernick Road side defeated Truro’s second team by eight wickets after bowling the visitors out for 175 before an unbeaten 71 from Jake Preston put pay to the away team’s attack in 35.1 overs.

With six games left, the Saints sit eight points above Paul at the division’s summit, with the two clubs set to face off with each other on the penultimate weekend of the season.

Mark Thomas called right at the toss and decided Truro would bat first.

Proceedings did not start well for them though as they lost two early wickets in the form of Nicole Richards, for five, and Tom Collinge for a duck, leaving Truro on 23-2.

Justin Bose and Simon Grant tried to restore order to the scoreline, putting on 32 together, but a decent blast from Scott Kellow got the latter out LBW for 27.

Visiting skipper Thomas came in and built a partnership of 38 with Bose, but when he was caught behind by Shaun Semmens off Kellow’s bowling, it sparked the end for his team, who were sat on 103-4.

Bose departed soon after for 38 with no more runs added to the total and from there Truro could not put together a partnership of more than 22 as they feel to what was considered a below par score on the wicket.

The main damage was done by home captain Jon Udy who picked up three wickets for 29 with his spin bowling.

After the tea break, Richard Kellow set off at a rapid pace with the bat as he hit 21 runs off the same amount of balls, with three fours and a six, before he was out caught and bowled by Daniel Ferris.

Unlike their opponents had done, the Saints batting line-up did not lose another wicket quickly as Preston and Matt Julian scored 66 together before Thomas O’Toole bowled the latter for 36 with the score on 91-2.

It was then left to Preston, who hit 13 fours in his innings, to finish off the match with his skipper, who ended on 37 not out.

Up next for the Saints is a trip to Camborne to face their second team, who surprisingly lost to bottom side Crofty/Holman on Saturday.